Best ND Filters DJI Mini 5 Pro: Cinematic Guide

ND Filters Explained: What They Do for Your Drone

ND filters, or Neutral Density filters, reduce the light entering your drone's camera lens without altering colors. On the DJI Mini 5 Pro, with its fixed f/1.8 aperture, they're crucial for controlling exposure in bright conditions.

Dji Mini 5 Pro Camera Sensor

Why bother? They help achieve the perfect shutter speed for natural motion blur, making your footage look professional and cinematic rather than choppy or overexposed.

ND filters are similar to sunglasses for your camera lens.

Without ND filters, bright daylight forces high shutter speeds, killing motion blur and creating stuttery videos. Pop on an ND filter, and you maintain low shutter speeds for that buttery-smooth effect. It's like giving your drone's sensor a pair of shades to handle intense light while keeping your creative control intact.

Freewell Mega Kit - 16 Filters

For top-notch options, consider Freewell's ND filters for drones. Their basic ND pack includes strengths like ND64 and ND256, perfect for extending the range beyond stock filters. These high-quality glass filters ensure no color shifts or distortions, delivering crisp, reliable results every flight.

Shutter Speed Basics: Why It Matters in Drone Footage

Shutter speed dictates how long your camera's sensor is exposed to light, measured in fractions of a second. Higher speeds (like 1/8000) mean darker images with less blur, while lower speeds (like 1/60) brighten things up and add motion blur.

What is Shutter Speed?

In drone videography, the right shutter speed prevents over-sharp, unnatural footage. Too fast, and your videos look jittery; too slow, and they're blurry messes. The sweet spot? Balancing exposure and blur for cinematic appeal.

Shutter Speed Measurement

Slower Vs Faster Shutter Speed

Freewell filters shine here by allowing precise light control. Their mega pack for the Mini 5 Pro offers versatile ND options, ensuring you hit that ideal shutter speed without compromising quality.

180 Degree Shutter Rule: Achieving Cinematic Motion Blur

The 180-degree shutter rule is a filmmaking staple: set your shutter speed to double your frame rate. Shooting at 30fps? Aim for 1/60. At 60fps? Go for 1/120.

180 Degree Shutter Rule

This rule delivers natural motion blur, making movements look fluid and realistic. On the Mini 5 Pro, without ND filters, bright conditions blow out your exposure at these speeds. ND filters step in to cut light, letting you stick to the rule for pro-level results.

Natural Motion Blur

Upgrade your kit with Freewell's drone filters. Their Bright Day pack combines ND with polarization to reduce reflections, enhancing saturation and contrast while adhering to the 180-degree rule.

Freewell Filters Overview: Best Options for Mini 5 Pro

Beyond DJI's stock ND8, ND32, and ND128, Freewell offers superior alternatives. Their basic ND pack fills gaps with ND64 and ND256 for brighter days and varied lighting.

Freewell All Day Pack - ND Set

The Bright Day pack adds polarization (PL-ND) to cut glare from water or windows, with a rotating element for horizontal/vertical shots. Ideal for coastal or urban drone flights, it boosts natural colors without unwanted exposure shifts.

Freewell Bright Day Pack - ND/PL Set

For creative flair, Freewell's Everyday pack includes a CPL (pure polarizer), Glow Mist for dreamy light blooms in low-light scenes, LPR for reducing city light pollution, and UV for haze reduction and lens protection.

Freewell Everyday Filter Pack - CPL | UV | Light Pollution | Glow Mist

All Freewell filters for drones are built with premium glass, ensuring durability and optical clarity. I've used them for years—they're worth every penny for avoiding cheap filter pitfalls like distortion.

Installing ND Filters: Quick and Safe Tips

Fitting ND filters on the Mini 5 Pro is straightforward. Power off the drone to avoid gimbal strain, align the filter's numbers with the camera's, clip the bottom first, then push the top.

Fitting Freewell ND Filter onto the lens

For removal, support the gimbal and pull the top tab gently. Pro tip: Freewell filters fit seamlessly like stock ones but flip the rubber inserts if they're upside down for easier access. Always use high-quality options to protect your lens like Freewell UV filter which adds an extra safeguard against scratches.

For more drone tips, enroll in Justin's Advanced Drone Videography Course.

Pro Mode Setup: Using ND Filters for Optimal Results

Switch to Pro mode by tapping the auto icon. Set white balance to manual (e.g., 5500K for midday), ISO to 100, and shutter to double your frame rate.

Pro Mode Setup

Check the exposure meter (aim for -0.3 to -0.7 for safety). Test ND strengths by holding them up—ND128 often works for bright days.

Footage Comparison: ND Filters On vs. Off

Footage Comparison With / Without ND Filters

Side-by-side tests show the difference: With ND, low flights over fields blur naturally, treetops soften smoothly, and tracking shots gain cinematic depth.

Freewell Filter Vs DJI Filter

Without, everything sharpens unnaturally at high shutter speeds, losing blur and adding stutter. ND filters preserve that professional polish.

Auto Mode Usage: Can ND Filters Work Here?

Yes, ND filters help in auto mode by forcing better exposure decisions, but you lose shutter control, risking inconsistent blur.

Motion Blur on Auto Mode

Use as baselines: ND32 for dawn/dusk, ND64 for dull days, ND128/256 for bright ones. For full benefits, switch to Pro.

Dual ISO Fusion: Combining with ND Filters

In Pro mode, set ISO to auto for dual ISO fusion (best at 100-200). Lock exposure by tapping and holding the screen to prevent shifts.

Dual ISO Settings

This tech reduces noise while ND filters handle light, yielding clean, cinematic clips.

An example of ND Filters turns the footage into Cinematic

ND Filters Necessity: Are They Worth It?

Absolutely, if cinematic footage is your goal. They add natural blur for waterfalls, fast movements, or low flights—far better than post-production fakes.

Natural Motion Blur